Releasable plug for automatic sprinklers



y 1956 c. L. OCCHIPINTI 2,743,782

RELEASABLE PLUG FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS Filed Nov. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllllllll IN V EN TORI. J Z COS/M0 L OCCH/P/A/T/ United States Patent RELEASABLE PLUG FDR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS Cosimo L. Occhipinti, Redondo Beach, Qaiilf. Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 463,417 8 Claims. (Cl. 169--39) This invention relates to a quickly releasable plug for automatic sprinklers of the type generally used in fire extinguishing systems.

At the present there are in general two types of sprinkler systems for fire extinguishing, namely, the type wherein each outlet or sprinkler is provided with a fusible element which keeps in place a device for covering an individual sprinkler, which device is ejected, preferably by the water pressure, when the fusible element or link melts at a predetermined temperature; and the socalled deluge system, wherein the sprinkler outlets are normally open and the water line is controlled by a valve actuated by suitable temperature control such as a fusible link or the like. in either one of the forms during replacement or testing of sprinklers, the sprinkler system has to be shut off, creating a fire risk while the sprinkler system is not in operation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a suitable plug which can be quickly and easily placed in the individual sprinkler outlet or" any system so as to plug the same during testing or replacement operation, which plug is adjustable to the size and type of sprinkler outlet, and which plug is provided with a fusible pivot or element for the automatic release of the plug in the event of a fire or of dangerous temperature near the respective sprinkler unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plug for a sprinkler outlet used in fire protection which is quickly adjustable and insertable to fit a sprinkler outlet, a connecting element of which plug is of suitable fusible material so as to release the plug when melted or fused by predetermined heat or temperature and thereby to render fire protection systems of the sprinkler type safe during testing, replacement or repairs.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of my plug device in a sprinkler of individual fusible control.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my plug device in a sprinkler used in the deluge system.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my plug device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental bottom plan view of my plug device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of my plug device, the section being taken on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my plug device applied in inverted position to a pendent sprinkler outlet.

In Figure 1, my invention is illustrated in connection with a usual upright automatic sprinkler. In my plug device, I make use of a body 1 which has a plug base 2, on the bottom of which latter is inserted a suitable compressible sealing gasket or packing 3 to be pressed upon the outlet 4 of the sprinkler. The plug body 1 extends obliquely and then horizontally from the base 2 and terminates in an arm portion 6 with a head 7 there on. A slot 8 through the oblique portion of the body 1 accommodates a pivoted bell crank lever 9. The portion of the bell crank lever 9 above the base 2 is generally horizontal and is provided with a socket 11 to engage the usual point or knob 12 in the top of the usual sprinkler frame 13. In the usual sprinkler the frame 13 is generally oval and extends above the outlet 4 and is formed with the knob 12 pointing toward and spaced rorn the outlet 4. The base 2 and socket 11 of my plug device respectively engage the outlet 4 and knob 12. The bell crank lever 9 is pivoted in said slot 8 in the oblique portion of the body 1 by a fusible transverse pivot 14.

The other end 16 of the bell crank lever 9 is forked so as to straddle the lower end of a handle 17. A pivot 13 extends through the fork end 16 and through the lower end of the handle 17 to pivot the handle. The handle 17 may be of any suitable shape such as: a loop or ring, to facilitate handling. On the edge of the handle 17 above the fork end 16 of the bell crank lever are provided a plurality of steps 19 for the purpose of easy adjustability of the spacing of the socket 11 of the bell crank lever 9 from the base 2 of the body 1 and to facilitate the quick attachment and adjustment of this plug device to sprinkler of various sizes and types.

A set screw 21 is threaded through the head 7 of the body 1. The lower portion of the head 7 is slotted to form a yoke 22 which straddles the respective step 19 on the edge of the handle 17 and aligns the same with the set screw 21. The set screw 21 has a suitable head 23 thereon to facilitate the tightening of the unit together.

In operation, the base 2 of the plug device is placed upon the hole or outlet of the sprinkler, then the handle 17 is swung in position so as to bring the respective step 19 under the set screw 21 The step 19 is selected so that it holds the socket 11 of the bell crank in firm contact with the adjacent knob 12 of the frame 13. Then the screw is quickly tightened and the plug device is held in position. In the event of fire or excessive heat the pivot pin 14 melts, the bell crank lever falls out and the water pressure pushes the body 1 away from the outlet. Thus the plug device falls out of the sprinkler and allows emergency operation.

The three steps 19 shown on the inclined edge of the handle 17 are usually sufficient to accommodate the average variation of sizes and types of sprinklers now in use, but it is understood that a larger number of steps or similar arrangements may be provided for such adjustable spreading of the end of the bell crank lever from the base of the plug body. In the event the distance diifers greatly, for instance, as the distance between the outlet 4 and the top of the frame in the open type of sprinkler shown in Fig. 2, a second pivot hole 24 is provided through the slotted portion of the body 1 nearer the head 7 and the pivot pin 14 can be quickly removed and the pivot of the bell crank lever 9 shifted higher so as to allow increased spreading of the plug device for engagement with the present open type sprinklers used in deluge systems.

This plug device can be used on upright sprinklers, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as well as when the sprinkler outlets used are in pendent position as shown in Fig. 6.

The plug is quickly and easily attached and is very quickly removable and it can be used in the deluge system during pressure test as well as in the individual fusible outlet. It obviates the need for shutting off the entire system during repairs or replacement of a fusible link. The device is simple in structure and positive in operation and is eminently adapted for its intended use.

I claim:

1. A plug device for fire extinguishing sprinklers having an outlet and a frame above and opposite said outlet comprising a base adapted to cover the sprinkler outlet, a bearing element adapted to engage the sprinkler frame opposite said outlet, and means to adjustably connect said bearing element to said base for quick and firm locking of the same in position on the sprinkler, said adjustable means including a pair of arms, said base being on one arm and said bearing element on the other arm, and a fusible pivot connecting said arms.

2. A plug device for fire extinguishing sprinklers having an outlet and a frame above and opposite said outlet comprising a base adapted to cover the sprinkler outlet, a bearing element adapted to engage the sprinkler frame opposite said outlet, and means to adjustably connect said bearing element to said base for quick and firm locking of the same in position on the sprinkler, said adjustable means including a pair of arms, said base being on one arm and said bearing element on the other arm, and a fusible pivot connecting said arms, a handle swingably connected to one of said arms, and means to fasten said swingable handle between said arms so as to hold said arms in operative position in the sprinkler.

3. A plug device for fire extinguishing sprinklers each of which includes a frame with a sprinkler outlet on the frame so located that a plug for a fusable support may be braced between said outlet and said frame; comprising pivotally connected members, a sealing element on one member to cover said outlet, the other pivoted member having a socket in registry with said sealing element to bear against said frame, and adjustable means to hold said pivoted members spread in engaging position with said outlet and said frame.

4. A plug device for fire extinguishing sprinklers each of which includes a frame with a sprinkler outlet on the frame so located that a plug for a fusable support may be braced between said outlet and said frame; comprising pivotally connected members, a sealing element on one member to cover said outlet, the other pivoted member having a socket in registry with said sealing element to bear against said frame, and adjustable means to hold said pivoted members spread in engaging position with said outlet and said frame, said adjustable means including handle pivoted on one of said members, and a releasable fastening element to hold the said handle in said spread* ing position.

5. A plug device for fire extinguishing sprinklers each of which includes a frame with a sprinkler outlet on the frame so located that a plug for a fusable support may be braced between said outlet and said frame, comprising pivotally connected members, a sealing element on one member to cover said outlet, the other pivoted member raving a socket in registry with said sealing element to bear against said frame, and adjustable means to hold said pivoted members spread in engaging position with said outlet and said frame, said adjustable means including handle pivoted on one of said members, and a releasable fastening element to hold the said handle in said spreading position, and adjustable steps on said handle in selective operative relation to said fastening element.

6. A plug device for fire extinguishing sprinklers each of which includes a frame with a sprinkler outlet on the frame so located that a plug fora fusable support may be braced between said outlet and said frame; comprising pivotably connected members, a sealing element on one member to cover said outlet, the other pivoted member having a socket in registry with said sealing element to bear against said frame, and adjustable means to hold said pivoted members spread in engaging position with said outlet and said frame, and a fusible pivot for pivotally connecting said members together.

7. in a plug device for sprinklers having an outlet and a frame opposite said outlet, a pair of members crossing one another, a fusible pivot for pivotally connecting said members, a sealing base on one of said members adapted to seal said outlet, means on the other member generally opposite said sealing base to brace against said frame for holding the sealing base on the outlet, a handle pivoted on said other member, and releasable and adjustable fastening means on said handle and on the first mentioned member for fastening the handle in position to hold said member braced between said outlet and said frame.

8. lo a sprinkler plug of the character described, a plug body, a sealing base at one end of said body adapted to seal a sprinkler outlet, a lever extended intersectingly with respect to said body spaced from said base, a fusible pivot connecting said lever to said body, a socket on the end of the lever spaced from said base and being adapted to bear against a frame above said outlet, a handle pivoted on the other end of said lever so as to be swingable toward or away from the other end of said body so as to hold said lever and said body spread apart about said fusible pivot, a clamping element on said body to engage said handle and hold it between said body and said lever, and spaced bearing points on the handle at different distances from the pivot of the handle selectively registerable with said clamping element to adjust the spread between body and lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,430 Thornton et al Apr. 14, 1908 890,356 Grode June 9, 1908 1,028,247 Morey June 4, 1912 1,465,831 Rowley Aug. 21, 1923 a. Na 

